New Study from University of Montana Focuses on Forest Recovery After Wildfires

A new study from researchers at the University of Montana focuses on the ability of low-elevation forests to regenerate after wildfires. The study, titled "Wildfires and Climate Change Push Low-elevation Forests Across a Critical Climate Threshold for Regeneration" and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that climate change makes it increasingly difficult for tree seedlings to regenerate following wildfires in low-elevation forests, which could contribute to abrupt forest loss.

From lead author Kimberley Davis, a postdoctoral research associate in the W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation at UM: "Forests in the western U.S. are increasingly affected by both climate change and wildfires. The ability of forests to recover following wildfire depends on annual climate conditions, because tree seedlings are particularly vulnerable to hot and dry weather. We wanted to identify the specific conditions necessary for post-fire tree regeneration to better understand how climate change has been affecting forests through time...It is important to understand how climate change and wildfires will affect tree regeneration because forests are important economically, ecologically and culturally."

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A new study from researchers at the University of Montana focuses on the ability of low-elevation forests to regenerate after wildfires. The study, titled "Wildfires and Climate Change Push Low-elevation Forests Across a Critical Climate Threshold for Regeneration" and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that climate change makes it increasingly difficult for tree seedlings to regenerate following wildfires in low-elevation forests, which could contribute to abrupt forest loss.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED BUT WILL BE RESCHEDULED IN LATE MARCH OR APRIL.

Dr. Jean Dixon, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences at Montana State University, will deliver a lecture at 7 p.m. Monday, March 11, as part of the Montana Institute of Ecosystems’ Distinguished Lecturer Series.

Morning Star Elementary School in Bozeman is looking for a few more Visiting Scientists to interview students about their projects for its annual STEM Project Fair at Morning Star School on Friday, Feb. 22 from 4:30-6:00pm. This event is set in the school's gymnasium and will have approximately 55 students from grades second through fifth grade participating.

The US Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Institutes for Water Resources requests proposals for matching grants to support research on the topic of improving and enhancing the nation's water supply, including evaluation of innovative approaches to water treatment, infrastructure design, retrofitting, maintenance, management, and replacement; exploration and advancement of our understanding of changes in the quantity and quality of water resources in response to a changing climate, population shifts, and land

The Institute on Ecosystems has had discussions with the MSU Graduate School about strengthening the Ecology and Environmental Science (EES) Ph.D. degree program. As a first step, there is currently funding available to recruit new students for the EES Ph.D. program. If you have had a student show interest and want to bring them to campus Spring Semester, funding is available to cover flights and accommodations for a 2-3 day visit.